Catheter tubing with improved stress-strain characteristics

Abstract

A medical tubing is disclosed which includes a first material extending between proximal and distal ends of the tubing and which defines a lumen of the tubing. The tubing also includes a second material extending between at least portion of the distance between the proximal and distal ends of the tubing and that is embedded in the first material. The second material is fractured. The first material is flexible and the second material is relatively rigid and brittle and the two materials combined to provide a medical tubing that exhibits strain softening behavior.

1. A medical tubing comprising: a first material extending between a proximal end and a distal end of the tubing and defining a lumen of the tubing and an outer surface of the tubing; and a second material extending between at least a portion of a distance between the proximal end and the distal end of the tubing and embedded in the first material, the second material being fractured into a plurality of juxtaposed pieces. 
     
     
       2. The medical tubing of  claim 1 , wherein the first material has a low flexural modulus and a high break elongation. 
     
     
       3. The medical tubing of  claim 2 , wherein the low flexural modulus of the first material ranges from about 100 mPa to about 2,000 mPa. 
     
     
       4. The medical tubing of  claim 2 , wherein the high break elongation of the first material ranges from about 100% to about 1,000%. 
     
     
       5. The medical tubing of  claim 2 , wherein the low flexural modulus of the first material ranges from about 100 mPa to about 2,000 mPa and the high break elongation of the first material ranges from about 100% to about 1,000%. 
     
     
       6. A medical tubing comprising: a first material extending between a proximal end and a distal end of the tubing and defining a lumen of the tubing and an outer surface of the tubing; and a second material extending between at least a portion of a distance between the proximal end and the distal end of the tubing and embedded in the first material, the second material being fractured, wherein the second material has a high flexural modulus and a low break elongation. 
     
     
       7. The medical tubing of  claim 6 , wherein the high flexural modulus of the second material ranges from about 2,000 mPa to about 20,000 mPa. 
     
     
       8. The medical tubing of  claim 6 , wherein the low break elongation of the second material ranges from about 0.1% to about 10%. 
     
     
       9. The medical tubing of  claim 6 , wherein the high flexural modulus of the second material ranges from about 2,000 mPa to about 20,000 mPa and the low break elongation of the second material ranges from about 0.1% to about 10%. 
     
     
       10. A medical tubing comprising: a first material extending between a proximal end and a distal end of the tubing and defining a lumen of the tubing and an outer surface of the tubing; and a second material extending between at least a portion of a distance between the proximal end and the distal end of the tubing and embedded in the first material, the second material being fractured, wherein the first material has a low flexural modulus and a high break elongation, and the second material has a high flexural modulus and a low break elongation. 
     
     
       11. The medical tubing of  claim 10 , wherein the low flexural modulus of the first material ranges from about 100 mPa to about 2,000 mPa and the high break elongation of the first material ranges from about 100% to about 1,000% and the high flexural modulus of the second material ranges from about 2,000 mPa to about 20,000 mPa and the low break elongation of the second material ranges from about 0.1% to about 10%. 
     
     
       12. The medical tubing of  claim 1 , wherein the first material forms a first layer defining the lumen of tubing, the second material forms a second layer, and the first material forms a third layer which comprises the outer surface of the tubing; wherein the second layer is disposed between the first and second layers. 
     
     
       13. The medical tubing of  claim 1 , wherein the tubing comprises a longitudinal axis, and the second material comprises at least one strip of material extending along the longitudinal axis of the tubing. 
     
     
       14. A medical tubing comprising: a first material extending between a proximal end and a distal end of the tubing and defining a lumen of the tubing and an outer surface of the tubing; and a second material extending between at least a portion of a distance between the proximal end and the distal end of the tubing and embedded in the first material, the second material being fractured, wherein the tubing comprises a longitudinal axis, and the second material comprises a plurality of circumferential rings that are axially spaced apart and that extend along the longitudinal axis of the tubing. 
     
     
       15. A medical tubing comprising: a first material extending between a proximal end and a distal end of the tubing and defining a lumen of the tubing and an outer surface of the tubing; and a second material extending between at least a portion of a distance between the proximal end and the distal end of the tubing and embedded in the first material the second material being fractured, wherein the second material comprises a plurality of domains. 
     
     
       16. A medical tubing comprising: a first material extending between a proximal end and a distal end of the tubing and defining a lumen of the tubing and an outer surface of the tubing; and a second material extending between at least a portion of a distance between the proximal end and the distal end of the tubing and embedded in the first material, the second material being fractured, wherein the tubing is a single layer blend of the first material and the second material. 
     
     
       17. A medical tubing comprising: a first material extending between a proximal end and a distal end of the tubing and defining a lumen of the tubing and an outer surface of the tubing, the first material having a low flexural modulus and a high break elongation; and a second material extending between at least a portion of a distance between the proximal end and the distal end of the tubing and embedded in the first material, the second material having a high flexural modulus and a low break elongation, and the second material being fractured. 
     
     
       18. The medical tubing of  claim 17 , wherein the first material forms a first layer defining the lumen of tubing, the second material forms a second layer, and the first material forms a third layer which comprises the outer surface of the tubing; wherein the second layer is disposed between the first layer and the second layer. 
     
     
       19. The medical tubing of  claim 17 , wherein the tubing comprises a longitudinal axis, and the second material comprises at least one strip of material extending along the longitudinal axis of the tubing. 
     
     
       20. The medical tubing of  claim 17 , wherein the tubing comprises a longitudinal axis, and the second material comprises a plurality of circumferential rings that are axially spaced apart and that extend along the longitudinal axis of the tubing. 
     
     
       21. The medical tubing of  claim 17 , wherein the second material comprises a plurality of domains. 
     
     
       22. The medical tubing of  claim 17 , wherein the tubing is a single layer blend of the first material and the second material. 
     
     
       23. The medical tubing of  claim 17 , wherein the low flexural modulus of the first material ranges from about 100 mPa to about 2,000 mPa and the high break elongation of the first material ranges from about 100% to about 1,000% and the high flexural modulus of the second material ranges from about 2,000 mPa to about 20,000 mPa and the low break elongation of the second material ranges from about 0.1% to about 10%.